Adedokun Waliyu 
After four weeks of intense competition, Anekwe John Paul has emerged as the winner of the 2022 edition of Life Beer’s Hi-Life Fest. Anekwe beat Amadi Jane Francis and Kingsley Orji, who finished 2nd and 3rd respectively at the grand finale held on December 18, 2022.
As the winner, Anekwe received a cash prize of N10 million, a 15 million music distribution deal, a five million video production deal, and a N15 million album recording deal with some of Nigeria’s finest producers.
Throughout the show, the budding singer serenaded the audience with his sonorous voice, confidence, and unrivalled stage presence, which are the hallmark of a songster. While these qualities set him above other contestants, he warmed his way into the heart of judges with his lyrical dexterity.
The Brand Manager, Life Continental Lager Beer, Hilson Mbara, said, “We are pleased to drop the anchor on this year’s edition of Hi-Life Fest after weeks of searching for the next indigenous music superstar. It has been a journey laced with fun and excitement as some of the best talents from this part of the world put to show what they are made up of.”
Continuing, he said: “Over the years, Life Beer has consistently done this to bring to the limelight talented artistes striving to accomplish a lifelong ambition of becoming music stars. We, therefore, remain dedicated to preserving and promoting the Igbo culture and extolling our ethos of Culture, Brotherhood and Progress.”
Anekwe’s journey to emerging as the winner of Hi-Life Fest 2022 did not come on a platter of gold. He, alongside Amadi Jane and Kingsley Orji, was among the 12 finalists who made it through the regional audience which saw at least 10,000 entries from indigenous musical talents who needed a platform to showcase themselves.
Highlife music icon, Bright Chimezie, and veteran rapper, Mr Raw, who were the Judges on the show, had their work cut out for them as the young act eulogised the indigenous beer brand as well as its ethos of Progress, Brotherhood, and Culture, in the Igbo language.
Themed ‘Celebrating Life, Celebrating Culture,’ this year’s edition of Hi-Life Fest, which debuted on November 13th, 2022, witnessed the infusion of concerts for the contestants to display their talents and perform to a physical audience.
